Riding on the success of its four London locations in Soho, Saint Paul’s, Covent Garden and Old Street, the On the BabK-food chain is setting up shop in Paris, on the edge of the Japanese-Korean district on Rue Sainte-Anne. On the agenda, a menu that mixes the best of Koreanstreetfood with a few iconic local dishes. We love the New York loft-style decor with rough rag-painted walls in dark hues and the lively (not to say noisy) atmosphere. For the launch of the restaurant, owner Lynda Lee travelled to Paris to welcome and advise guests in keeping with the tradition of Korean hospitality. Once you are seated, the delicate aromas wafting from the kitchen will immediately whet your appetite. No need to wait for someone to bring you the menu. Carbon paper notepads and pens are set out at your table. Simply tick the boxes of the dishes you wish to order and give your sheet to the adorable Aya or one of her friendly colleagues. A procession of dishes will then arrive at your table in random order (in Korea, all the food is served at the same time), excellent “jeons” (seafood cakes with kimchi or leek, €8.50), tasty “kun mandu” (grilled dumplings with chicken or shrimp, €5.50), a flawless “yangyum chicken” (fried Korean-style, €8, €18 or €35 depending on the size), or a traditional “bibimbap” (€13 for vegetarian or €15 with beef, pork or chicken). The star dishes are the famous On The Buns, steamed rolls similar to bao buns, stuffed with bulgogi (Korean specialty of marinated and then grilled meat) with beef, spicy pork or fried chicken (€14 for two). Countless street food icons, prepared with gastronomic flair and happily washed down with soju, an alcohol much like saké and genuine pillar of Korean culture.
